The US State Department announced Tuesday it will produce a limited run of commemorative passports bearing the portrait of President Donald Trump.
State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the passports will be issued as part of celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence in July. Pigott’s statement did not mention Trump’s image, but official renderings show a portrait of the president on a passport page opposite an image of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence.
It was not clear whether applicants could choose to opt out of the special edition. “These passports will feature customized artwork and enhanced imagery while maintaining the same security features that make the US passport the most secure documents in the world,” Pigott said.
The AFP news agency, citing an unnamed State Department official, reported the Trump-themed passports will be available only in Washington “for as long as there is availability” and will be issued at no additional cost.
This move is the latest example of the Trump administration placing the president’s name or likeness on official property. Earlier announcements included a commemorative gold coin from the US Mint featuring Trump’s image to mark the nation’s founding anniversary, and the Treasury Department said paper currency will bear Trump’s signature — the first time a sitting president has signed US money.
There are few modern examples of sitting leaders’ portraits appearing in passports, particularly in democracies; most countries opt for imagery tied to history or nature. Current US passports already include multiple scenes from the country’s past, such as the Statue of Liberty and the Moon landing.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko